Plaster ceilings have added to the importance of coating the wall or thresholds ever since the primitive civilizations. Did you also know that Egyptians involved plastering in the creation of the pyramid? It does not simply end with that. Almost all of the houses have been adorned with plastered ceilings.

But even though the plaster can get thick and coat your ceiling for a long time, it can receive much damage too. Are you experiencing the same dilemma? Don’t worry. Here is a guide to help you resolve all your plaster ceiling dilemmas.

What Are Plaster Ceilings Made From?

It is essential to know the type of material your plaster ceiling is made of to know how you can treat it. Several builders immediately seek to fix the roofs without even diving into the details of the materials. That’s why this event can repeat itself, and you don’t want to waste your money hiring help when you know how it is made and fixed.

Plaster ceilings are often made 4ft by 6ft with gypsum or casting powder materials. But the plaster binders are not limited to that material. There are materials such as lime, asbestos, cement, and even clay plaster coating the ceiling.

Why Should You Install a Plaster Ceiling?

As already stated above, installing a plastered ceiling can coat the inner roofing. Still, you can also use it to coat other parts of the house, such as the walls and other decorations.

But since cornices and other house decorations are rarely used nowadays, are there any reasons you should still install a plaster ceiling?

Since most modern homes are sleek and stylish, it is vital that no wiring should be visible to achieve them all. Plumbing pipes, electrical wires, and air conditioners mounted on walls or ceilings would detract from the overall aesthetic, so you may need to. Plasters can help disguise these cables, so they don’t look tacky.

Step by Step: How To Fix Plaster Ceilings

Knowing the materials utilized to install your ceiling plaster, you may want to know how to repair it. Even though it is designed to hide wires and is finished, plaster can fall over many causes.

• Plaster ceilings can be repaired by measuring them up, cleaning out debris, or drilling injection holes where the laths are put and sucking them up.
• It’s possible to inject glue into the plastered area after cleaning it and before applying the sealant. After a while, separate the forms with a knife and fill them.

However, how can plaster cracks be repaired without replacing the entire plasterboard?

How To Fix Cracks in a Plaster Ceiling

The cracks in a plaster ceiling happen that could eventually lead to further damaging of the plaster. If not addressed immediately, the gaps would give way to falling off, leaving your top a mess. So how do you fix cracks? Here are some tips.

Most of the time, cracks vary in size and material used on it. In some cases, you will see that your ceiling has some minor cracks, and they shouldn’t be a big deal, especially if they are just a line in the roof.

However, you may resolve the further damage by removing the plaster and filling it with a new one. Assume your house is sporting a rough-textured application. In that case, you may simply dip your sponge into the paste of the same material that you used in the plaster, like sand. But if the surface is soft, you may just need to reapply some paint for the crack.

As for the big cracks, this is where you should show concern for your plaster.

It may display a variety of signs of possible problems, some of which may want immediate attention. They will be prone to sagging, which is something you do not want to happen.

If the plaster is firmly attached to the lath, apply the same methods as for tiny cracks. As the spackle layers dry in your ceiling gaps, you may need to double-check them and perform some sanding, painting, and priming on them.

How To Fix Sagging Plaster Ceiling

It is essential to see if your plaster ceiling is falling off because the whole plaster support may fall off with the plaster.

This dilemma can still be resolved by reattaching the plaster ceiling to the laths that support it by using an increased wash plaster to hold them all mechanically. It is usually screwed into the lath, securing the plaster in place.

Usually, in repairing the sagging plasters, you will have to make sure you’re sporting eyeshield or eye protection and keep the supplies you need at bay.

Drills, rags, vacuums, pencils, drop cloth, plaster kit, caulk gun, and impact driver are frequently required. With these tools, you can clean the surface and drill holes for the plaster or adhesive to fill in the gaps or remove the sagging area of the plaster.

How To Fix Water Damaged Plaster Ceiling

But sagging plaster is not the only thing you will need to remember. You will also have to think about the water-damaged plaster ceiling. The leaks in your plumbing can leave damaging effects on the plaster, depending on its material.

If your plaster is made of a lime blend, it will surely give in to the water that damages the plaster keys that become saggy afterward.

On the other hand, Gypsum shows a different effect to the water damages as it bubbles up, turning back to its original powder texture. You may want to scrape the damaged area and add some new coats.

After dealing with the fresh coating, you can prime, sand, and paint the plaster. Since water damages can stain the plaster, you can use a stain-blocking primer to eliminate the water stains.

How To Fix Holes in a Plaster Ceiling

Aside from plaster ceiling cracks, holes in the plaster ceiling are standard when repairs are made. Patching these holes is simple when the lath beneath it is still intact.

This approach uses patching plasters to fix damaged areas. The lath should be drenched with bottle spray before applying the plasters to avoid rapid drying.

But it isn’t always the case. It will take more than just patching plaster to make it work, but you can easily find a solution.

Typical items include waste wood (for replacing missing laths), drill, plasterboard or drywall, sponge, and a bucket.

The first step is to install the scraped wood support or laths. It is cut and sized to fit the region, filled, and screwed inside the good plastered ones.

Then screw the plasterboard repair into the lath you connected earlier. After that, fill it with plaster, smooth it out with the same base, then texture it if it’s already textured.

What Are the Benefits of Plaster Ceilings?

Knowing that plaster ceilings can be the savior for the gaudy wires, there are some benefits for going through the hardships of still saving your ceiling. Here are they:

• Plastering materials can survive hundreds of years, significantly longer than the modern drywalls utilized in modern house structures.
• The plaster is also fire resistant and doesn’t crack immediately if appropriately applied---ideal for office buildings or any public space that requires a simple yet elegant design.
• Apply it to your ceiling to provide texture without seeming drab or crusty. Plaster can also be used for other surfaces besides the ceiling, giving you a beautiful finish in any room.

How Much Do Plaster Ceilings Cost?

Since we are talking about several materials to use, they can be pricey, especially if you cover a huge plaster. The average cost of the plaster ceiling can round up at at least $390, but if you’re fixing it, the rate can go around $70 to $80 per square foot.

How Much Weight Can a Plaster Ceiling Hold?

You may notice that while we talk about the plasters, you will see that it is not directly used as a support in the ceiling. The only wires that it can hold are the LED lights and some wires. But when it comes to the lighting that weighs heavier, it will need a lot of support.

How Much Space Is Needed Between the Plaster Ceiling and the Ceiling Structure Above?

Enough space between the plaster ceiling and the actual ceiling is required to accommodate the wires that must be covered. For ceilings with cassette air conditioners, 320mm is the minimum depth. At the same time, 9.5 ft is the suggested distance for the plasters and the ceiling for the homeowners installing ceiling fans in their homes.

Can the Plaster Ceiling Be Repaired?

As we went through several ways to fix the plaster damages, it is feasible to fix your plaster ceiling. Even in small renovations such as fixing the repositioning and new installations, you can repair the holes in the areas where you had the adjustments.

How Plaster Ceilings Improve Your Interior Design

You wouldn’t want the place where you rest your eyes to look so tacky with the wires, right? If you find them annoying to look at and you want a clean and sophisticated design, plaster ceilings are the best option to go to.

They can improve your home’s interior design since the materials used to manufacture plasters can accentuate the attraction of your light placement and the corners of your house. You also can easily add different decorations to make your home incredibly appealing and easy on the eyes.

Takeaway

If you’re thinking of bettering your household aesthetic, you can easily upgrade it by having your ceiling plastered. The plaster ceiling is efficient and can last for several years without having to constantly fix it.

And if you already have one and are in desperate need of some retouching, you can see that there are several ways to do it that can be budget-friendly and hide the wirings completely.